the 2nd amendment- why 2nd?

[a completely inoffensive name]

I'll leave it to Louis.... He likes the grumpy ones more than I do.

I look forward to refuting his arguments as well.

[HoreTore]

I look forward to refuting his arguments as well.

You need to learn to spot teasing

[a completely inoffensive name]

You need to learn to spot teasing

My mistake. You know the old saying though, the internet is serious business.

[Husar]

I don't know if America bashing is popular in Norway right now, but it is quite tiresome for us Americans who have to explain why we broke off from "Enlightened" Europe.

Perhaps you should have thought about that before you broke off from Europe...

[Centurion1]

Sigh i see this all the time. As everyone can see from the real facts, Europe broke off from America. Ah, someday you will understand children.

[TinCow]

The ranking has no meaning whatsoever. The amendment was first formally proposed by the Pennsylvania convention that ratified the constitution, and they listed it at #7 on a list of 14. They also used wording that was extremely clear in its purpose and which would put today's debate about the purpose of the 2nd to rest:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

7. That the people have a right to bear arms for the defence of themselves and their own state, or the United States, or for the purpose of killing game; and no law shall be passed for disarming the people or any of them, unless for crimes committed, or real danger of public injury from individuals; and as standing armies in the time of peace are dangerous to liberty, they ought not to be kept up: and that the military shall be kept under strict subordination to and be governed by the civil powers.

In the first proposal of the actual Bill of Rights, there were 20 amendments, and the right to bear arms (with different wording) was listed as #17. A re-write proposed by the New York convention then suggested a different version with the right to bear arms listed at #5, followed by a North Carolina convention proposal that put it back at #17 out of 20. Madison then re-did his proposal and drafted the amendments in a manner that inserted them directly into the main Constitution instead of listing the amendments separately. This new draft listed the right to bear arms fourth. The Select Committee which was tasked with drawing up the final wording then put the right to bear arms third.

After it came out of committee, the first full draft was proposed to Congress with a total of 17 amendments, with the right to bear arms at #5. After it came out of the Senate, it had been chopped down to 12 amendments, with the right to bear arms at #4. That was the form that was then sent out to the States for ratification. After that point, 2 of the 12 were not ratified, which required another re-write and additional re-organization which resulted in the right to bear arms landing at #2.

As you can see, the numbering was totally irrelevant and was never considered as any indication of anything.

[Strike For The South]

I wish I was French.

[Centurion1]

^ WHY..................

[Louis VI the Fat]

^ WHY..................

Convincing charm, intellectual audacity, cultural superiority, dazzling looks....?


Face it, a Frenchman is to intellectual debate what a sledgehammer-armed Texan is to a bar brawl.
I wish I were Texan. And had as much of an intimate knowledge of American law as TinCow.